"But," he says for me, the word coming out through his teeth. "There's a but, isn't there?"
"But," I relent. "I don't want you to give it up. I can do this. I wasn't sure for a minute, but now that everything is out in the open, Iamsure. I can do it.Wecan do it."
"We just have to be smart," Atticus adds. "Plan for every scenario."
I nod and kick Seven covertly, trying to get him to weigh in. He drops the file he was looking at on the table. "What doyouwant, Ro? Don't think about whatwewant or what you think we're owed. Our vengeance is not your responsibility."
"Yes, it is," I snap, and he cocks his head at me, curious. "It is because it's mine, too. That bastard hurt the men I care about. Iwantto make him pay. And I might be the only person who can."
He chuckles, casting his gaze to the vaulted ceiling with a sigh that leeches some of the venom from my blood. "Oh, Ro. Just when I think I've figured you out, you still manage to surprise me."
When his burning blue eyes find mine again, they take my breath away. "Atty's right, Eli," he says. "She's in control here. We follow her lead."
Elijah won't look at me, and it hurts, but I know it's only because he cares so deeply. I know it's because he would never be able to live with himself if something were to happen to me on the road to reclaiming what's rightfully his.
"What is it you want to do, then?" he asks softly, like he's resigned himself to a death sentence.
I bite my lip, considering the files. Considering Elijah's request.
"How about I make you a deal?" I offer. "You let me try—really try…and if it doesn't work and I can't get the intel we need, then we end it."
He lifts his light brown eyes to me, but the usually warm shade is cold. "You want to go to Spain?"
I nod slowly.
He heaves a shuddering breath and drops his head into his hands. "I'm sorry," he mutters so quietly I barely hear him. "I can't agree with this. It doesn't feel right."
I taste blood in my mouth from chewing the inside of my cheek, and force myself to stop. I don't want to cause Elijah stress or worry or pain. But Iknowthat this will always nag at him.
The what-if.
What if we tried harder?
What if he let me go and we could've brought Florence's art and their own damn family legacy home to Julian?
What if he could've gotten his vengeance?
The vengeance he isowed.
Where his shirt is pulled down at the back of his neck, I see the intersecting lines of the scars at the top of his back, and my resolve strengthens. "We put it to a vote, then."
Elijah's attention snaps up.
"It's the only way it'll be fair."
"Angel…"
I lift my hand. "All in favor of my plan? We give this one shot everything we have, and if it doesn't work, we're done. We put an end to Ambrose De La Rosa, and we move on."
Atticus is the first one to raise his hand, and Elijah bows his head, knowing he's already outnumbered, because Seven will support my choice. He willalwayssupport my choice.
"Sorry, E," Seven says. "But this is how it has to be. If the roles were reversed…if it were her legacy, her scars…is there anything that would stop you from seeking her revenge?"
Elijah twists his head to rest his temple on his clasped hands, looking up at me like he really does see an angel next to him instead of a mere woman.
"No," he says, and I offer him an apologetic smile as Ellie comes to sit next to him, laying her head in his lap to comfort him.
"Don't be angry with me," I beg.
